New York Construction Report staff writer
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forestry Service has awarded the City of Yonkers a $1 million grant for projects to reduce heat island effects including planting more than 1,000 trees over the next four years.
“With the support of our federal partners, Yonkers is on its way to combat the effects of climate change,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “Planting trees in our most densely populated neighborhoods will provide much needed shade canopies and keep our streets and building surfaces cooler. With the assistance of our Parks and Sustainability departments, Yonkers continues to be leaders in implementing equitable strategies to benefit future generations.”
Through the grant, the city will also encourage proactive and systematic maintenance and monitoring of urban trees and forested natural areas to improve forest health; assess risk to forests from pests, disease, and adverse climate impacts; and formulate adaptive management strategies to improve forest resilience.
Heat island effects occur when cities are warmer than surrounding areas due to the absorption and retention of heat by buildings, pavement, and other surfaces, causing higher temperatures, greater pollution and more negative health impacts.
